ARUA BLOOD BANK FINALLY HANDED OVER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR USE

Arua assistant RCC in charge of Ayivu Division, Polly Ongom hands over the facility keys to the hospital director (Photo by Martin Anguyo)

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

The long-awaited Blood Bank Facility at Arua Regional Referral Hospital has finally been handed over to the hospital administration for operational use, marking a major milestone in improving healthcare services in Uganda’s West Nile region.

The project, funded by the World Bank at a cost of approximately Shs6 billion, including installation of modern blood handling equipment, commenced in 2022 and was executed by Development Infrastructure Uganda Limited.

The completion of the facility comes amid growing demand for safe blood storage and transfusion services in a region that continues to register high cases of maternal emergencies, severe malaria among children, accident-related injuries, and major surgical referrals.

Health experts believe the new blood bank will significantly reduce delays in accessing blood during emergencies and strengthen the hospital’s response capacity.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, project engineer Sunday Itrima assured the public that, “the facility was constructed according to the required standards and is expected to serve the region for many years if properly maintained”. He emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure capable of supporting critical healthcare services.

Hospital Director Dr. Alex Andema acknowledged that although the project took longer than initially scheduled, its completion represents a huge boost to service delivery at the regional referral hospital.  “The facility will enhance blood collection, storage, and distribution, ultimately saving lives across the greater West Nile sub-region and neighboring communities,” he said.

Polly Ongom, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Ayivu Division in Arua City, tasked the hospital administration with ensuring responsible use and proper maintenance of the facility.

He warned against negligence, stressing that government and donor-funded projects must translate into improved public service delivery for ordinary citizens. “You find scenarios within short period of time, the walls of a facility are worn out but I want to appeal that, this facility should be used responsibly,” he said.

According to Uganda’s health statistics, the country requires more than 450,000 units of blood annually to adequately meet demand, yet collections frequently fall short. Medical reports further indicate that severe bleeding accounts for nearly 30 percent of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, while thousands of children suffering from severe anemia require urgent transfusions each year.

Health officials believe the operationalization of the new blood bank facility in Arua will greatly improve emergency healthcare response, increase blood availability, and contribute to reducing preventable deaths across the West Nile region.